Did You Use Your Dental Benefits This Year?

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Are you paying dental insurance premiums monthly? If so, are you getting the most out of your benefit by visiting the dentist regularly and completing necessary treatment? If the answer is no, it would not only be financially wise to use your dental benefit, but also could help to protect or improve your overall oral health. It is imperative that you use your insurance benefit before the end of each year because not only could it save you hundreds of dollars, but if insurance funds go unused, they will be lost.

Dental insurance plans provide an annual fund for each member insured known as the yearly maximum, this is an amount of money that an individual can use towards dental expenses. The amount is generally $1,000 - $1,500 dollars per person, per year, but varies by plan. Again, this amount will not roll-over into the new year, so the dental treatment needs to be completed before the end of 2018 to reap the benefit. Sometimes patients become overwhelmed by expensive treatment plans. An idea for a money saving opportunity would be to begin a dental treatment plan toward the end of one benefit year and finish it up the following year. This solution would maximize your insurance by utilizing both yearly maximums for the same treatment plan.

Many companies offer employees enrollment into a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) that can be used for dental expenses. With these accounts, generally a set amount is deducted from payroll pre-tax and placed into the FSA account for health care expenses. It is important to use the full amount in this account before the year is up, because many times if the amount goes unused, the funds are forfeited. Health Savings Accounts or (HSA), is another way to help cover costly dental expenses. If you have an HSA through your employer, take advantage of this triple tax advantaged account by using the balance to pay for dental visits. Many employers will even match or contribute to the amount being added to this account, ask your employer about this today to ensure you are making the most of your HSA account.

It is also a good idea to utilize insurance benefits before the end of the year because some providers will review pricing to determine fee increases from factors such as: increased cost of living, materials and equipment. This may increase your co-pay in the new year, so it may be in your best financial interest to utilize your benefit before any changes take place. Keep in mind there generally is a deductible that must be paid before insurance companies will begin to cover dental expenses. The good news is that for most insurance plans, the deductible is low usually just $50 annually for an in-network dental care provider.

With all these money saving tips and opportunities, it makes it easy and more affordable to get the dental care that you need. Even if you don’t have any dental concerns, it would be prudent to use your insurance to maintain regular hygiene cleanings and examinations. These measures are important to prevent and detect cavities, gum disease, oral cancer, grinding/ clenching of teeth and other dental issues. Your dental benefit can also be used to update any outdated or worn dental work that needs to be replaced such as: dentures, partial dentures, or outdated dental work.

The holidays and end of the year are fast approaching, and dental appointments at Pro Solutions Dental Group are going fast! We would love to get you scheduled to help you better utilize your dental insurance. Don’t wait! Call and make an appointment with Drs. Jason Campbell or Rick Farnsworth today! New Patients welcome! Call us at: 928-776-1208 or visit us online at: www.prescottdentist.com. We hope to see you soon!